Northwest Schools.

St. Edward Is Planning Expansion

School Hopes To Raise $8 Million For Project

November 04, 1998|By Krystyna Slivinski. Special to the Tribune.

St. Edward Central High School in Elgin hopes to raise about $8 million the next two years for an expansion project that would include improved science and technology classes, new classrooms and a larger cafeteria.

The high school, at the corner of Perry and Locust Streets, borders one of Elgin's oldest neighborhoods and used to serve as a public elementary school. In 1941, public school officials sold the school to the Rockford Diocese. In 1972, the last time there was any new construction, the school's two buildings were connected by a third building that houses a library.

Today, with enrollment hovering between 500 to 550 students, administrators say the school is in need of expansion and renovation to modernize its facilities to make room for computers and other technological advances.

"Lab space is a problem," said Bob Blaus, a chemistry teacher at St. Edward. His chief complaint is that classrooms don't have enough space to store equipment or computers nor do they have a storage room where teachers can prepare chemical solutions for their next class. Instead, the classrooms combine the lab and the lecture hall in one room.

While the school's future enrollment is expected to remain between 550 to 600 students, administrators say they could use another 10 to 12 classrooms. For instance, a class on theology is taught in a mobile classroom in the school's parking lot. A driver's education class is taught in the school's cafeteria. Students also have to cross Perry Street to get to Hoban Hall, which houses foreign language, theology and health classes.

"We need to improve the learning environment," said George Laird, the school's superintendent. "The work is to really enhance educational opportunities."

School officials considered building a new high school but changed their minds after a recent decision by the Elgin City Council that allowed the school to expand its campus. The City Council agreed to the school's request to close a portion of Perry Street, between Locust and Crosby Streets, which will allow the school to build a five-classroom building. It would be at least four years before that building is completed.

In anticipation of the new classroom building, the school recently spent about $200,000 to buy two homes at 122 and 128 Perry Street. Those homes and the current Hoban Hall classroom building will be torn down to make room for the five-classroom building.

Planning officials at City Hall have requested that school officials submit a master plan that would be subject to a public hearing and require the approval of city council.

To that end, St. Edward has hired Unteed, Nelson, Slack, Anderson Ltd., an architect firm based in Elgin, to develop a master plan that is expected before March.

After a feasibility study, which is under way, the second phase would be construction of a four- to five-classroom facility on the East Campus and the expansion of the library, storage and restrooms.

During the next phase, the four properties on Perry Street would be razed to make room for the construction of a five- to six-classroom facility and new administrative offices.

Once the additional classrooms are ready, the science and biology classrooms will be remodeled. The last two phases include expanding the school's cafeteria, relocating the school's parking lot and building a new chapel and performing arts center.

"We want neighbors to know we are trying to do what's best for St. Edward and what's best for this neighborhood," said Richard Sanders Sr., chair of the building expansion committee.

St. Edward's $3 million annual budget is supported in part by student tuition and through donations received by eight parishes. A student who belongs to any of the eight parishes pays $3,300 per year while an out-of-parish student or a non-Catholic student is charged $4,300.